BC Hiking Club Blog - Chilliwack & Vancouver Hiking British Columbia

I bought one of those cool little magnesium fire starter gizmos this past summer but didn't try it until just the other day deep when it was 2 below and snowing. It worked pretty awesome.

How does it work, you say? First, take your knife and scrape off magnesium shavings (the whole thing is magnesium). Then when you've got a little pile of mag shavings (on top of your pre-built pile of super-dry tinder and wood shavings or whatever fire starter you can find) you then scrape your knife blade along the very top part of the gizmo pictured and it creates a spark -- that top part of the gizmo is a flint and it sparks when you scrape the steel knife blade on it. Of course if you scrape too frantically you'll probably hit your fragile little pile of tinder and mag shavings (knocking them all over the place) then you'll have to start all over again. So don't do that.

In sum, all you need is a knife and this under-$10 gizmo to make a match-less fire. It's a pretty good all-weather, no-water-concerns fire starter. Bought mine at Walmart in Chilliwack BC during the summer, but of course they don't have it in stock now when it's coldest out and we need fire and warmth the most...so try your local outdoors store or rummage through Walmart's camping section anyways and maybe you'll get lucky.

Labels: fire starter, hiking essentials, magnesium firestarter, magnezium fire starter, one of those shave off some metal stuff with your knife and make a spark to make a fire things

I just got Mountian Equipment co-op's new winter catalogue in the mail. Here's their page of snowshoes.
Consider getting MSR snow shoes, the rigid plastic if you are considering gaining elevation in while hiking with snowshoes on. The flotation of the tubular frames is great in deep snow, but they are hopeless if you are trying to climb.

Labels: buy snowshoes, mec snowshoes, msr snowshoes, snowshoe reviews

A few people have asked about where to buy snowshoes in Chilliwack, Abbotsford or Vancouver:

If you're out in the Fraser Valley you could try Vedder Mtn Field Supplies in Chilliwack (Vedder), or Valhalla Pure in Abbotsford. MEC in Vancouver (mec.ca) also sell em -- also check out their gear swap section where you can get good deals on used gear. Sports Junkies is always a great place for used sports gear, but finding used snowshoes this time of year will be a little tough.

A small list of outdoor gear stores in Vancouver and the Fraser Valley is on our hiking website:
http://www.hikechilliwack.com/resources.html

Got any great outdoor gear stores you likeÉ Let us know.

Labels: abbotsford snowshoe, bc winter hiking gear, buy snowshoes, chilliwack snowshoeing, outdoor gear stores, vancouver snowshoe, where to buy snowshoes, winter hiking

BC Parks just recently let us know the following:

Recently, BC Parks along with members of the BC Conservation Corps built 5 tent pads at Lindeman Lake, 2 tent pads at Greendrop Lake and brushed out the old Flora/Greendrop connector trail We hope that word gets out that the old Flora/Greendrop trail has been brushed out again and that people start using this trail. It is a beautiful hike in Chilliwack Lake P.P. (albeit a bit strenuous) that more people should get to enjoy!

BC Parks partnered up with the Student Conservation Association and for the last two summers have been working to brush out the trail to Galene Lakes in Skagit Valley Provincial Park. Thanks to the hard work of the Student Conservation Association this past summer, we were able to finish brushing out the trail all the way to Galene Lakes. We are hoping that lots of people take advantage of this trail that takes you to three beautiful alpine lakes, provides access to some great ridge walking and provides breathtaking views of Ross Lake.

Labels: bc hiking trails, bc parks galene lakes ross lake, chilliwack hiking, flora lake, greendrop lake, lindeman lake, student conservation association

1. Don't wear cotton: Cotton Kills! It quickly gets soaked with rain, or sweat, and takes too long for it to dry. When cotton gets wet it loses 100 percent of it's insulation properties. Wet clothes wick heat away from the skin.

2. Don't wear jeans: You'll be hiking in BC rainforests, not herding cattle in Saskatchewan. Jeans are heavy, and don't insulate when wet. Cotton sweatpants are just as bad.

3. Wear Synthetic Fabrics: Synthetic fabrics don't retain water easily, they insulate when wet and dry rapidly.

4. Dress in Layers: Layer 1 should be comfortable thin synthetics ( ie T-shirt and shorts). Layer 2 should be for warmth (ie a fleece jacket/vest and long pants). Layer 3 should be for protection (ie goretex jacket, toque, gloves)

Labels: fleece jackets, fleece vests, goretex jacket, hiking tips, vancouver hiking clothing

DID YOU KNOW? Through Al Gore's movement, The Climate Project, a handful of Vancouverites have been trained as Climate Change Messengers. This select group will present their version of Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" in towns and cities across Canada. If you would like to invite a Climate Project presenter for Vancouver and other towns in Canada and the States, visit www.theclimateproject.ca

Labels: al gore, climate change, inconvenient truth, the climate project